Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s recent remarks about Real Madrid have remained at the centre of Spanish football discussions for the past two days. Laporta accused the Madrid hierarchy of suffering from what he called “Barcelona-itis”, a comment made in response to Florentino Perez’s speech at Real Madrid’s General Assembly last weekend.
Perez had argued that match officials tend to benefit Barcelona, a claim that reignited friction between the two clubs. As a result, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso faced questions about the dispute during his media duties before the team’s visit to Girona. He declined to engage in the controversy, saying, via Diario AS, that “populist messages” do not concern him, adding that the team’s focus is on earning results “fairly and through performance.”
Alonso aims for stability after recent results
Real Madrid broke a run of three matches without a victory by defeating Olympiacos on Wednesday. Alonso noted that the squad must build on that success and maintain stronger levels of control in upcoming fixtures. He acknowledged that the team has shown strong stretches of play but emphasised the need for consistency and greater defensive discipline, admitting he remains dissatisfied with the goals conceded in recent outings.
According to Alonso, his squad is still a work in progress, with improvements required in multiple phases of play. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the group is moving in the right direction as they enter a demanding period of the season.
Coach dismisses reports of dressing-room tension
Recent stories suggesting that several players were unhappy with Alonso’s management appear to have been addressed internally. The head coach stressed that he has continuously felt support from his squad since taking charge.
He highlighted the unity within the group, insisting that both staff and players share a common ambition: to compete for every title until the final stages. Despite outside noise and speculation, Alonso maintained that the environment inside the club is strong, cohesive, and fully aligned.